This blog is a personal take on Listowel, Co. Kerry. I am writing for anyone anywhere with a Listowel connection but especially for sons and daughters of Listowel who find themselves far from home. Contact me at listowelconnection@gmail.com

Tag: Mary Lavery Carrig

Launch of Mary Lavery Carrig’s Haiga , Listowel St. V.de P. shop and some folklore

Dogs in Banna; Bridget O’Connor

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People at a Launch


Here are a few photos I took at the launch of Mary Lavery Carrig’s exhibition which is currently hanging in St. John’s, Listowel

Childhood friend, Declan Downey launched the exhibition.

Jim and Susan are artists and came to lend their support.

John McGrath was Mary’s teacher back in the day.

Art lovers and artist, Mary, Matt and Maeve Mooney

Family, friends and neighbours were in St. John’s to support.

Máire Logue was our hostess and Mary provided us with a sumptuous feast. There was food for the body and soul in St. John’s on Feb. 1 2020.

I have never before got a chocolate covered strawberry at a launch! Thank you, Mary

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A Charm, a Cure and Unhappy Priest


A Tale from a Rathea child in the Schools’ Folklore Collection

Mickey Hussey was a native of Banemore. He was a charm setter. He was a small man with a hump. He used to be going round with an ass and car. He was well liked by everybody.

He always obliged his neighbours as far as he could. One night there was a woman living in Gleannaléime and she was very bad. A varicose vein bursted in her leg. The priest was sent for and he only gave her a few hours to live. After the priest was gone her son made for Banemore to Mickey. 

Mickey was not inside he was at Jerr Finnerty’s house. The son had only such a limit of time and he told his story to Mickey. Mickey went out and brought in two dog-briars. He split them into two and set them apart in the table. As he was saying the words the briars were drawing close to each other. And at that moment the cock flew out through the coope and crew three times up in the table in front of Mikey. There was neigbours inside and they got in dread when they saw the cock. And Mickey said you amadán if he didn’t do that sure my work would be no good. 

Before the son arrived home the Mother was alright. Next morning the priest came and he was surpised when he saw her. So they told him their story and he became very angry. He said he would excommunicate him from the Church if he would not give up this work. All Mikey said was “I saved her life and let you save her soul”. When the Fennertys went out the cock was dead outside the door.

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Vincent de Paul Shop Makeover



Listowel’s St. Vincent de Paul shop looks twice the size since its recent revamp. It still has all the same lovely smiling faces to greet you when you shop there. It’s open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Above are just some of the friendly hard working volunteers. I’ll have to call in again to catch the rest of them.

Last of the photos from my Book Launch, The Square, Some Shops Closing and an Exhibition in St. John’s

Lower Courthouse Road

The Square Listowel, January 2020

Two car charging locations in Listowel Town Square in January 2020

Both of these shops, the sweet shop and the wool shop are closing soon.

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The last of The Photos from the Book launch of A Minute of Your Time

Eamon Dillon

Eddie Moylan and Paddy McElligott

Eibhlín Pierse

Eileen Moylan

Eileen O’Sullivan

Eileen O’Sullivan

Eilish Wren

Elaine and John Kinsella











































Proud Nana with all of my grandchildren

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Kerry Person of the Year 2020


Photo and text from Tralee Today




THE Kerry Association in Dublin’s Kerry Person of the Year has been announced as Dr Patricia Sheahan.

Listowel native Dr Sheahan, is Head of Palliative Care at University Hospital Kerry, has been central to the development of palliative care services in the county. She will receive her award in March.

The Laochra Chiarraí award has also been announced as Listowel Tidy Towns for their enormous success and community efforts over the past number of years. The announcements were made on Radio Kerry this morning.

The Kerry Person of the Year award, now in its 41st year, recognises an individual who has shown leadership, brought honour to the county, and performed services for the county to such an extent that could be described as being beyond the norm of everyday life.

The awards will be presented at the Association’s annual Oiche Chiarraí which will be held in the Red Cow Moran Hotel on Saturday, March 28.

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Exhibition Launch at St. John’s


The setting was the charming St. John’s Arts Centre Listowel.

The day was Feb 1 2020, the first day of Spring in the old Irish calendar.

The music was Woodbrook, played for us by the very talented Ellen Egan.


The artist was poet, Mary Lavery Carrig whose marvellous exhibition marries ancient Irish script with images of birds and trees.

Old Gaeilge was an oral language and people used visual images or prompts to remember the letters, so each letter corresponds to a bird or a tree.

In the old days Japanese poets and artists used minimal lines and sketches.

Mary Lavery Carrig has created a new art form in this tradition, combining her haiku poems with images of birds and foliage.

You’ll have to go along to St. John’s to see for yourself. All the pictures are framed for sale and are very reasonably priced.

If you want to learn more about this fascinating art form, visit Mary’s website

Haiga.ie

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